Is Lee Min-ho Experiencing a Downturn? From Sparse Fan Meetings to Concerning Ratings

Concerns Over Empty Fan Meeting

Recent discussions on popular Korean forums, including Instiz, reveal that Lee Min-ho is encountering significant challenges with ticket sales for his upcoming fan meeting scheduled for early March at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, South Korea. Despite ticket sales commencing two weeks ago, only about 55% of the 2, 500 available seats have been filled, equating to approximately 1, 300 tickets sold as the event approaches.

This scenario has led to comparisons with peers of similar caliber, such as Kim Soo-hyun and Lee Jong-suk. For instance, Kim Soo-hyun achieved a swift sell-out of 4, 500 seats for his fan meeting, while Lee Jong-suk, who has been largely inactive, has already sold 2, 000 tickets for his latest event. Comments on social media reflect widespread concern among fans regarding Lee Min-ho’s underwhelming ticket sales, especially since this gathering serves as the launch of his Asia fan meeting tour for the year.

Struggles with TV Comeback

In addition to the challenges surrounding his fan meeting, Lee Min-ho has faced substantial criticism regarding his recent K-drama, “When the Stars Gossip.” The series has been targeted for its unrealistic storylines and nonsensical scenes, and its finale has been particularly vilified, all while it grapples with notably low viewership ratings.

The drama debuted to a peak rating of just 3.9% in its second episode but experienced a steady decline, culminating in a dismal 1.783% by episode 15, leading to an average rating of merely 2.363%.Such figures mark “When the Stars Gossip” as one of tvN’s least successful weekend dramas in recent years, representing a rare occurrence since the network’s shift to weekend programming in 2017.

Prior to the series’ launch, expectations were high, buoyed by a hefty production budget of 50 billion won (approximately 34 million USD) and the star power of both Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho. However, the final product has dramatically fallen short of these anticipated standards.

This scenario may represent a significant setback in Lee Min-ho’s acting career, as it is rare for a leading actor of his stature to face such poor ratings and lack of social media engagement for a project.

Looking Ahead: Future Prospects

Despite the disappointing ticket sales and plummeting ratings, many fans are choosing to remain hopeful. They argue that even securing 1, 000 tickets for a fan meeting can be a challenge for many actors, suggesting that Lee Min-ho still maintains a solid fanbase. Furthermore, some attribute the lackluster performance of “When the Stars Gossip” more to its flawed writing than to Lee Min-ho’s abilities as an actor.

Looking to the future, Lee Min-ho has another project lined up for summer release—the film adaptation of the popular web novel “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.”However, even before its debut, it has been scrutinized for making significant alterations that seemingly detract from the original narrative. If this film underperforms, 2025 could prove to be a challenging year for Lee Min-ho’s career.

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